South Dakota
South Dakota Public Utilities Commission
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State Intelligence
Updated Jun 1, 2026Utility Landscape
NorthWestern Energy
IOUWestern South Dakota, including Rapid City metro and Black Hills region for electric and natural gas service
NorthWestern serves as the primary IOU in western SD and has been active in transmission expansion filings before the SDPUC. Recent integrated resource planning activity reflects pressure to integrate more renewable capacity while maintaining reliability in a largely rural transmission-constrained territory.
Xcel Energy (Northern States Power)
IOUNortheastern South Dakota, including portions of the Sioux Falls metro fringe and northeast corridor
NSP-Minnesota operates under multi-state rate case proceedings with Minnesota as the lead jurisdiction; South Dakota typically follows with conforming adjustments. The company has sought recovery for transmission upgrades tied to regional MISO projects affecting SD ratepayers.
Otter Tail Power Company
IOUNortheastern South Dakota counties bordering Minnesota and North Dakota
Otter Tail filed for rate relief in South Dakota in coordination with its Minnesota proceedings, citing capital investment in wind integration and grid hardening. The SDPUC has historically scrutinized multi-state cost allocations to ensure South Dakota ratepayers are not disproportionately burdened.
East River Electric Power Cooperative
coopEastern South Dakota, serving as a generation and transmission cooperative supplying member distribution cooperatives across roughly 49,000 square miles
As a G&T cooperative, East River's wholesale rates to member co-ops indirectly affect SDPUC-jurisdictional retail rates. Its power supply portfolio is under review as it navigates Basin Electric Power Cooperative's evolving generation mix and coal asset transition timelines.
Black Hills Energy (Black Hills Corp)
IOUCentral and western South Dakota for natural gas distribution; overlapping electric service in portions of the Black Hills region
Black Hills Energy has been active before the SDPUC seeking infrastructure tracker mechanisms for natural gas system modernization. The commission has granted limited cost recovery while requiring enhanced reporting on leak-prone pipe replacement progress and system integrity metrics.
City of Sioux Falls Municipal Utilities (Sioux Falls Utilities)
muniCity of Sioux Falls and immediate suburban fringe; electric and water services
Sioux Falls Utilities operates largely outside SDPUC electric rate jurisdiction as a municipal utility, but its rapid load growth driven by data center and distribution center development creates regional transmission planning considerations that interface with SDPUC proceedings and MISO interconnection queues.
Key Issues
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Coal plant transition and resource adequacy planning: Basin Electric Power Cooperative's announced timelines for retiring or repowering coal generation assets, including units supplying East River Electric member co-ops in South Dakota, are creating uncertainty around replacement capacity procurement and the adequacy of SDPUC oversight mechanisms for wholesale cooperative rate impacts on retail customers.
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Natural gas infrastructure cost recovery and leak-prone pipe replacement: Black Hills Energy's pending and anticipated filings seek expanded infrastructure rider mechanisms to accelerate replacement of aging cast iron and bare steel natural gas distribution infrastructure under PHMSA mandates, with the SDPUC weighing ratepayer bill impact against safety and reliability imperatives.
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Transmission expansion and MISO cost allocation: Several MISO-designated Transmission Loading Relief and Long Range Transmission Planning (LRTP) projects crossing South Dakota require the SDPUC to evaluate the reasonableness of cost allocations to in-state ratepayers, particularly for NorthWestern and NSP facilities designed primarily to export wind energy from the Dakotas to eastern load centers.
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Agricultural and rural broadband overlap with utility rights-of-way: South Dakota has seen increased activity regarding electric cooperatives and IOUs seeking to leverage existing utility corridors for broadband deployment under state and federal funding programs; the SDPUC is navigating jurisdictional questions about its authority over telecom-adjacent cooperative activities.
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Renewable energy siting and local preemption: Large-scale wind and solar project siting in South Dakota has intensified conflict between state-level permitting processes and county ordinances imposing setback and height restrictions; the SDPUC's role in certificate-of-authority proceedings for these projects is under scrutiny as developers and landowner groups press for clarity on which authority governs project approval.
Upcoming
Estimated deadline for SDPUC staff comments in Black Hills Energy natural gas infrastructure tracker docket; commission has indicated a decision on expanded rider eligibility is anticipated in Q3 2026 following a technical hearing scheduled in late July.
Estimated SDPUC technical hearing on NorthWestern Energy transmission cost allocation filing related to MISO LRTP Tranche 1 projects; proceeding will address whether South Dakota retail ratepayers should bear a proportionate share of multi-state transmission investments with primary benefits outside the state.
Estimated commission order due on wind energy facility siting certificate proceeding for a proposed 300+ MW wind project in central South Dakota; decision will clarify SDPUC preemption authority over conflicting county setback ordinances and set precedent for future large renewable siting applications.
Estimated opening of annual SDPUC rulemaking review session addressing updates to procedural rules governing cooperative rate filings and IOU rate case scheduling requirements; stakeholder comment period expected to address proposals for mandatory pre-filing conferences and expanded data request timelines.
Commissioner Watch
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Staff
19| Name | Title | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Deb Gregg | Consumer Affairs Manager | (605) 773-3201 |
| Cindy Kemnitz | Deputy Executive Director & Finance Manager | (605) 773-3201 |
| Leah Mohr | Executive Director | (605) 773-3201 |
| Greg Rislov | Commission Advisor | (605) 773-3201 |
| Mary Zanter | Pipeline Safety Program Manager and Utility Analyst | (605) 773-3201 |
| Vicky Burns | Consumer Affairs Representative | (605) 773-3934 |
| Kristen Edwards | Commission Attorney | (605) 773-3201 |
| Jennie Fuerst | Staff Attorney | (605) 773-3201 |
| Travis Heasley | Operations Specialist | (605) 773-3201 |
| Boice Hillmer | Pipeline Safety Inspector | (605) 773-3201 |
| Darren Kearney | Utility Analyst | (605) 773-3201 |
| Brittany Mehlhaff | Utility Analyst | (605) 773-3201 |
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